The Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Denmark, invites applications for two three-year full-time postdoctoral researchers to join the research project “The Politics of Shaming and Shamelessness: How Elite Rhetoric Fuels Hostility and Tolerance for Political Violence”, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation (Semper Ardens: Accelerate) and headed by Associate Professor Tobias Widmann. The starting date is flexible and subject to mutual agreement but expected to be between December 2026 and February 2027.
The project
Healthy political discourse is the lifeblood of democracy. Yet across Western democracies, discourse has grown markedly more hostile, and physical assaults on politicians, attacks on minorities, and mobs storming legislatures show how hostility increasingly spills over into political violence. The project examines how elites, through their rhetoric, contribute to this development. It focuses on the emotion of shame and two connected rhetorical practices that have been on the rise over the last decades: shaming, where elites publicly brand opponents as norm violators and threats to the moral fabric of society, and shamelessness, where elites reassure their supporters that stigmatized beliefs or behaviors are normal or even honorable. These practices do not merely express disagreement – they recalibrate what counts as legitimate behavior and instruct citizens on which actions should be punished or excused.
The project is organized around three work packages. Work package I develops computational tools to detect and quantify shaming and shamelessness in elite political discourse across advanced democracies. Work package II examines the causal consequences of elite shaming and shamelessness for citizens’ discursive norms, hostility in debate, and tolerance of political violence. Work package III develops and tests remedies against the harmful effects of this rhetoric, using generative agent-based simulations and AI-chatbot-based dialogue experiments.
The two postdocs advertised in this call will take on leading roles in the empirical work of the project, with different but complementary profiles. Both postdocs are expected to have an affinity to computational methods and tools. The project is funded by a Carlsberg Foundation Semper Ardens: Accelerate grant, an ambitious funding instrument supporting research of high international standing led by mid-career researchers. The project runs for four years from August 2026 to July 2030 and is carried out by a team of two postdocs and student assistants led by Associate Professor Tobias Widmann.
The positions
Postdoc 1 will focus on the development and application of computational tools in the project. This includes, first and foremost, computational text analysis to detect shaming and shamelessness in parliamentary debates, party manifestos, press releases, and elite social-media content. It also includes other forms of computational tools used in the project, such as generative agent-based simulations with LLM-powered agents and AI-chatbot-based dialogue interventions. The postdoc will lead the empirical work on work package I and contribute to the computational components of work packages II and III.
Postdoc 2 will focus on the experimental and quasi-experimental work of the project. This includes designing and implementing online and mock social-media experiments, developing causal identification strategies in observational data, and conducting human experiments with AI chatbots as adaptive dialogue interventions. The postdoc will lead the empirical work on work packages II and III, with a strong emphasis on research design and causal inference.
Both postdocs are expected to combine their respective methodological profiles with an active interest in computational tools. They will be part of a collaborative team including the PI and student assistants. Research will primarily be carried out in collaboration with other project members. In addition, the positions involve opportunities to pursue independent work within the overall focus of the project. The successful applicant will become part of an exciting and ambitious research project and a supportive research team with a collegial and respectful atmosphere. There will be excellent opportunities for intellectual development and mentoring, with a focus on how the candidate can make use of the postdoctoral position to develop their career.
In addition to the outlined research tasks, the position implies modest teaching obligations equivalent to one course per year.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD in political science or a closely related discipline (e.g., communication, sociology, computational social science, psychology) by the starting date of the position. We are looking for outstanding candidates who can demonstrate:
A strong record (relative to career stage) of research on political communication, political behavior, political psychology, or a closely related area.
An affinity to computational tools and methods, and strong programming skills (e.g., Python and/or R).
Familiarity with research on emotions, social norms, incivility, or political violence.
High level of professional English proficiency, both written and oral.
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an international team.
Experience with or interest in comparative research across multiple democracies.
For Postdoc 1, we particularly look for:
Documented experience with computational text analysis, including natural language processing and the use of (multilingual) large language models / transformer-based models.
Experience with large-scale data collection (e.g., parliamentary speeches, manifestos, press releases, social-media data).
Interest in or experience with other computational tools relevant to the project, such as generative agent-based simulations or LLM-based conversational interventions.
For Postdoc 2, we particularly look for:
Documented experience with experimental and/or quasi-experimental research design.
Strong skills in statistical analysis and causal inference.
Experience with or demonstrated interest in LLM-based methods, including the use of conversational AI or generative agents in experimental settings.
Applicants are welcome to indicate whether they wish to be considered for one specific position or for both.
What we offer
A project that studies a highly relevant and societally important issue
A work environment at one of Europe’s leading political science departments with a vibrant, supportive, and collegial atmosphere
Excellent development opportunities and research support, including funding for data collection, conferences/travel, and research assistance
Competitive salary
Further information
For further information about the project and the positions, please contact Associate Professor Tobias Widmann at widmann@ps.au.dk.
If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, don’t hesitate to contact HR coordinator Astrid Valdgård Schmidt at avs@au.dk.
Place of work
Department of Political Science, Bartholins Allé 7, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Application deadline
Applications must be submitted before the deadline of 31 August 2026. Candidates selected for interviews are expected to be contacted by the end of September.
Who we are
With around 130 academic staff members and 40 PhD students, the Department of Political Science is among Europe’s largest political science departments. The research at the department covers most political science disciplines, including public administration, and represents a variety of methodological approaches. We are among Europe’s highest-ranked departments, and our broad research profile enables us to focus on societal problems as they appear in the national and international political arena. This allows us to contribute actively to the development of the discipline. We offer a lively and ambitious research and teaching environment characterized by pluralism and openness. We expect active participation in the activities of the department, which includes being present at the department at least three days per week.
For more information about the Department of Political Science, please see here.
The Department of Political Science is part of Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University – a top 100 university. Aarhus BSS has achieved the triple-crown AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS
International applicant?
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information here:
https://internationalstaff.au.dk/relocationservice/
Please find more information about research opportunities at Aarhus University here: http://international.au.dk/research/
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here:
http://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
Terms of employment
The appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish).
The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
Application procedure
When you apply for this position it is mandatory to attach the following:
Application
Curriculum Vitae. You are encouraged to declare any periods of leave without research activity, including, for example, maternity leave, since your research activities are assessed in relation to your actual research time
Education (diploma for master's, PhD and possibly higher doctoral degree)
List of publications (the enclosed publications must be clearly marked on the list of publications)
Publications. Up to three publications can be included in the application. In the event of several authors the publications must be accompanied by a co-author statement concerning the applicant's share of the collaborative work with the consent of the co-authors. This template may be used for the purpose
Teaching portfolio. The specific requirements regarding the documentation can be found here
Materials which cannot be uploaded together with the application may be submitted in three copies to Aarhus BSS HR & PhD, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 16, DK-8000 Aarhus C.
Read more about how to apply for an academic post at Aarhus BSS here
The evaluation process
After the application deadline, an assessment committee is appointed. Please note that the assessment of applicants is based solely on the material received prior to the application deadline. For further information, see Guidelines for Assessment Committee, Aarhus BSS.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 37,000 students (FTEs) and 8,700 employees and has an annual revenue of EUR 1.106 billion. Learn more atwww.international.au.dk/
In line with the EU Pay Transparency Directive, we are committed to providing transparent salary information. Candidates can find relevant salary insights at Lønoverblik.
INFORMATIONER OM STILLINGEN:
- Arbejdspladsen ligger i:
Aarhus Kommune
-Virksomheden tilbyder:
-Arbejdsgiver:
Aarhus Universitet, Bartholins Allé, 8000 Aarhus C
-Ansøgning:
Ansøgningsfrist: 17-07-2026;
Se mere her: https://job.jobnet.dk/find-job/5d2b3a4f-d3e4-4ea6-a12e-77d43b55d743
